In Thinking in an Emergency, Elaine Scarry lays bare the realities of "emergency" politics and emphasizes what she sees as the ultimate ethical concern: "equality of survival." She reveals how regular citizens can reclaim the power to protect one another and our democratic principles. Government leaders sometimes argue that the need for swift national action means there is no time for the population to think, deliberate, or debate. But Scarry shows that clear thinking and rapid action are not in opposition. Examining regions as diverse as Japan, Switzerland, Ethiopia, and Canada, Scarry identifies forms of emergency assistance that represent "thinking" at its most rigorous and remarkable. She draws on the work of philosophers, scientists, and artists to remind us of our ability to assist one another, whether we are called upon to perform acts of rescue as individuals, as members of a neighborhood, or as citizens of a country.

About the Author
Elaine Scarry is the Cabot Professor of Aesthetics and the General Theory of Value at Harvard University. Her book The Body in Pain was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Reviews
"Written with passion from a deeply humanitarian standpoint ... a mind-blowing canter around some difficult topics-conflict, democracy and nuclear war... I will give this book the ultimate accolade-I will buy copies as gifts for others." -- Patrick Tissington



Book Information
ISBN 9780393340587
Author Elaine Scarry
Format Paperback
Page Count 174
Imprint WW Norton & Co
Publisher WW Norton & Co
Weight(grams) 185g
Dimensions(mm) 211mm * 140mm * 13mm